Future Planning for Northern Beaches

​On 18 March 2018 the Greater Sydney Commission announced the finalisation of the Greater Sydney Region Plan - A Metropolis of Three Cities and five district plans, including the North District Plan. North District comprises nine (9) Local Government Areas (LGAs), including the Northern Beaches LGA.

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The finalised plans outline the State Government’s strategic planning direction at the regional and district level and are intended to filter down to Council’s planning at the local level.
 
An earlier version of North District Plan (Revised Draft North District Plan) was reported to Council on 19 December 2017, and Council resolved to forward a submission to the GSC. There is no further opportunity to make submissions or request changes. 

Key features of the North District Plan relevant to the Northern Beaches include:

•  Strategic Centres at Mona Vale, Brookvale-Dee Why, and Manly
•  Health & Education Precinct at Frenchs Forest
• Land Release Area at Ingleside
• No change to housing and jobs targets, with councils to prepare housing strategies to meet a District-wide target of 92,000 additional dwellings by 2036
• Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link identified on the North District Plan Structure Plan
• Requirement for councils to review and update their Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) within 3 years
• More stringent policy statements for retention of industrial land and a requirement for Council to conduct a strategic review of industrial land as part of updating LEPs 
• A new requirement for high density residential development to be located within 200m of open space, in addition to the requirement for all dwellings to be within 400m of open space.

Outstanding Matters
The finalised North District Plan responds to some of the matters raised in Council’s previous submission. Matters that have not been adequately addressed relate to:

• Metropolitan rural lands;
• Transport corridors and public transport improvements;
• Urban renewal and local infill medium density housing; and
• Delivery of infrastructure to meet community needs.

Although there is no further opportunity to make submissions, the North District Plan is intended to be a ‘living document’ updated from time to time.  Council can continue to make its position known to the Greater Sydney Commission if and when opportunities arise in the future, in addition to utilising its own planning and development approval processes to pursue desired outcomes.
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Implementation
The considerable and comprehensive planning work that follows on from the finalisation of the Greater Sydney Region Plan and North District Plan will need to be accounted for in Council’s future programs, resourcing and budgeting.

North District Plan makes reference to a number of planning tasks and deliverables that Council will be responsible for, including:

• Local strategic planning statement
• Review and update Local Environmental Plans within 3 years (i.e. by March 2021)
• Housing strategy in line with targets
• Affordable rental housing target scheme
• Strategic review of industrial land and broader employment study
• Ongoing collaboration on Frenchs Forest and Ingleside.

You can read the entire plan, here.
(Source:  Information provided by Northern Beaches Council)

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